Asian stocks fell on Thursday as disappointing earnings forecasts from Meta Platforms hammered tech shares. Meta’s shares dropped 15% in extended trading after the company forecast lower-than-expected revenue and higher expenses, sparking a sell-off in tech stocks. The broader MSCI Asia-Pacific index excluding Japan fell 0.7%, led by a 1.3% drop in Japan’s Nikkei and declines in China and Hong Kong stocks. Investors are now focusing on earnings reports from Alphabet, Microsoft, and Intel later on Thursday, as well as U.S. GDP and PCE inflation data for March on Thursday and Friday.
Results for: Asian stocks
Asian equity markets retreated on Thursday, weighed down by a sharp decline in tech stocks following disappointing earnings forecasts from Meta Platforms, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook. The yen’s continued weakness, slipping past the critical 155-per-dollar mark for the first time since 1990, fueled concerns about potential intervention from Japanese authorities. The sell-off in tech stocks reverberated across the region, dragging down the MSCI Asia-Pacific index excluding Japan by 0.7%. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index suffered a 1.3% loss, while China’s CSI300 and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng indexes fell by 0.3% and 0.5%, respectively.
Asian stock markets experienced declines on Thursday, primarily driven by losses in the technology sector. The tech sector’s fall mirrored the trend in Wall Street, where Meta Platforms’ disappointing guidance triggered a sell-off in technology stocks. Additionally, concerns over the potential for prolonged interest rate hikes by the U.S. Federal Reserve weighed on investor sentiment, leading to a further downturn in the tech sector and broader market weakness in Asia.
Asian stock markets followed Wall Street’s lead on Wednesday, with Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 surging over 2% due to gains in semiconductor stocks. Shanghai Composite and Hang Seng climbed, while Australia’s ASX 200 saw modest gains after a report on decelerating inflation. U.S. futures rose, while oil prices edged higher.
Asian stocks rallied on Wednesday, following Wall Street’s positive lead. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index surged 2.4%, reaching its highest level in a month. Shares in semiconductor makers Renesas Electronics Corp. and Tokyo Electronic jumped. In Greater China, the Hang Seng in Hong Kong gained 2%, while the Hang Seng Tech Index climbed 3.1%. South Korea’s Kospi added 1.9%, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.1%. U.S. futures also pointed higher, and oil prices edged up.
Asian stock markets experienced a broad rally on Wednesday, driven by a rebound in the technology sector and anticipation of key earnings reports from global tech giants. Investors sought bargains in tech stocks after recent declines triggered by disappointing earnings from chipmakers and concerns about rising interest rates. Tech-heavy markets led the gains, with the Nikkei 225 in Japan surging 2% and the KOSPI in South Korea climbing 1.9%. Major internet stocks lifted the Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong by 1.1%, while Chinese electric vehicle stocks followed the bounce in Tesla’s share price. Optimism prevailed ahead of earnings releases from Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Alphabet, fueling hopes that positive results would justify the recent surge in tech valuations. Asian chipmakers, including Renesas Electronics, Tokyo Electron, and Advantest, rebounded sharply, bolstered by strong earnings from Texas Instruments and hopes for robust demand in artificial intelligence. Broader Asian markets generally advanced, although China’s Shanghai Composite and CSI 300 traded with modest gains. Australia’s ASX 200 rose slightly after trimming initial gains following consumer inflation data that exceeded expectations. Japan’s TOPIX index climbed 1%, as export-oriented stocks benefited from yen weakness ahead of the Bank of Japan meeting on Friday.
Asian stocks mostly rose on Tuesday, tracking a partial recovery in US equities, while oil prices gained. The Nikkei 225 in Japan edged up 0.3%, while the Hang Seng in Hong Kong advanced 1.6%. However, the Shanghai Composite index in mainland China slipped 0.8%. In the US, futures contracts were mixed, with the S&P 500 futures down slightly. Meanwhile, oil prices rose, with US crude benchmark gaining 16 cents and Brent crude rising 18 cents per barrel.
Asian stocks rose on Tuesday, tracking Wall Street’s gains as investors awaited earnings reports from US tech giants. The MSCI Asia-Pacific ex-Japan index rose 0.5%, led by a jump in Taiwanese and Hong Kong shares. However, Chinese shares fell, with blue chips losing 0.6%. On Wall Street, big tech stocks performed well ahead of their quarterly results, with Nvidia, Amazon, and Alphabet gaining. Meanwhile, the Japanese yen fell to fresh 34-year lows against the US dollar, pressured by the widening interest rate gap between the US and Japan.
Asian markets are expected to extend gains on Tuesday after a positive start to the week, supported by a rebound in tech shares, calm in bond markets, and cooling geopolitical tensions. Economic data releases for Japan, Australia, India, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan will be closely watched. Currency traders remain cautious about possible yen intervention, while China’s yuan continues to weaken. Investors await earnings results from tech giants this week for guidance on the outlook for global stocks.